Trial Outcomes & Findings for Ice Immersion Using Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality (NCT NCT04196686)

NCT ID: NCT04196686

Last Updated: 2022-03-25

Results Overview

Given that the cold pressor test produces an uncomfortable experience, we considered longer duration within the ice bath to represent increased pain tolerance. Measured in seconds (s).

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

185 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Duration of ice bath (approximately 0 - 4 minutes)

Results posted on

2022-03-25

Participant Flow

185 participants signed informed consent, 156 participants were allocated to a study arm

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Ice Bath Control Then VR/AR
Participants placed their dominant or non-dominant hand in ice bath without the use of Virtual Reality (VR)/Augmented Reality (AR), then crossed to place their opposite hand in ice bath with the use of VR/AR
Ice Bath With VR/AR Then Control
Participants placed their dominant or non-dominant hand in ice bath with the use of Virtual Reality (VR)/Augmented Reality (AR), then crossed to place their opposite hand in ice bath without the use of VR/AR
First Treatment (4 Minutes)
STARTED
78
78
First Treatment (4 Minutes)
COMPLETED
78
75
First Treatment (4 Minutes)
NOT COMPLETED
0
3
Second Treatment (4 Minutes)
STARTED
78
75
Second Treatment (4 Minutes)
COMPLETED
78
75
Second Treatment (4 Minutes)
NOT COMPLETED
0
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Ice Bath Control Then VR/AR
Participants placed their dominant or non-dominant hand in ice bath without the use of Virtual Reality (VR)/Augmented Reality (AR), then crossed to place their opposite hand in ice bath with the use of VR/AR
Ice Bath With VR/AR Then Control
Participants placed their dominant or non-dominant hand in ice bath with the use of Virtual Reality (VR)/Augmented Reality (AR), then crossed to place their opposite hand in ice bath without the use of VR/AR
First Treatment (4 Minutes)
Withdrawal by Subject
0
3

Baseline Characteristics

Ice Immersion Using Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
All Participants
n=153 Participants
Participants placed their dominant or non-dominant hand in ice bath with or without the use of VR/AR, then crossed to place their opposite hand in ice bath using the opposite treatment or control
Age, Continuous
29.10 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.83 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
84 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
69 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
26 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
108 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
19 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
49 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
69 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
19 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
153 Participants
n=5 Participants
First hand assignment
Dominant
73 Participants
n=5 Participants
First hand assignment
Non-Dominant
80 Participants
n=5 Participants
VR hand assignment
Dominant
83 Participants
n=5 Participants
VR hand assignment
Non-Dominant
70 Participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Duration of ice bath (approximately 0 - 4 minutes)

Population: Participants who complete the respective interventions are included in the analysis.

Given that the cold pressor test produces an uncomfortable experience, we considered longer duration within the ice bath to represent increased pain tolerance. Measured in seconds (s).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Ice Bath Control
n=156 Participants
Participants placed their dominant or non-dominant hand in ice bath without the use of VR/AR
Ice Bath With VR/AR
n=153 Participants
Participants placed their dominant or non-dominant hand in ice bath with the use of VR/AR
VR Effect on Pain Tolerence
135 seconds
Standard Deviation 92
158 seconds
Standard Deviation 89

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Duration of ice bath (approximately 0 - 4 minutes)

Population: Participants who complete the respective interventions are included in the analysis.

During ice bath data collection participants will be asked to report pain on a numeric rating scale from 0-10, 0 being no pain and 10 being most excruciating pain imaginable every 30 seconds during ice bath

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Ice Bath Control
n=156 Participants
Participants placed their dominant or non-dominant hand in ice bath without the use of VR/AR
Ice Bath With VR/AR
n=153 Participants
Participants placed their dominant or non-dominant hand in ice bath with the use of VR/AR
VR's Effect on Perceived Pain Intensity
150 seconds
5.9 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.0
5.5 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.3
VR's Effect on Perceived Pain Intensity
0 seconds
2.1 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.3
2.0 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.3
VR's Effect on Perceived Pain Intensity
30 seconds
4.9 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.1
4.4 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.1
VR's Effect on Perceived Pain Intensity
60 seconds
6.0 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.9
5.5 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.0
VR's Effect on Perceived Pain Intensity
90 seconds
6.2 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.0
5.9 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.1
VR's Effect on Perceived Pain Intensity
120 seconds
6.0 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.0
5.7 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.0
VR's Effect on Perceived Pain Intensity
180 seconds
5.6 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.1
5.3 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.4
VR's Effect on Perceived Pain Intensity
210 seconds
5.5 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.3
5.1 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.5
VR's Effect on Perceived Pain Intensity
240 seconds
5.2 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.3
5.0 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.6

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Duration of ice bath (approximately 0 - 4 minutes)

Population: Participants who complete the respective interventions are included in the analysis.

The effects of VR on modulating sympathetic response in the presence of painful stimuli, was assessed by analyzing SCRD per 30 second interval. We refer to each of these 30 second intervals as a separate epoch. Skin conductance is expected to increase with increasing sympathetic nervous system activity, as sympathetic activity increases sweat secretion to increase skin conductance.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Ice Bath Control
n=156 Participants
Participants placed their dominant or non-dominant hand in ice bath without the use of VR/AR
Ice Bath With VR/AR
n=153 Participants
Participants placed their dominant or non-dominant hand in ice bath with the use of VR/AR
Skin Conductance Response Density (SCRD)
0.10 microsiemens
Standard Deviation 0.069
0.09 microsiemens
Standard Deviation 0.061

Adverse Events

Ice Bath Control

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Ice Bath With VR/AR

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Samuel Rodriguez, MD

Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford

Phone: (650)723-6412

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place